Veterans "oral" histories

Hi,

I decided to try to combine 2 interest here...cars and history..I would love to converse with any vets from WWII, Korea, or Vietnam. I'm especially interested in fellow Marines, but any and all histories are appreciated. Eventually would like to get an "oral" history of your experiences. Any Marines from Tet here? I would like to discuss anyones' views concerning the '60's and politics from people that were there...

Also anyone having an interest in WWII (especially The Ardennes and the Pacific campaigns) history, aviation or weapons, please email. As a side note I'm always looking for US/German Martial items..Thanks for the consideration..


Has anyone visited the European battlefields..Normandy, Flanders, the Argonne, Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes, or any of the Soviet battlesites..I'm interested in touring, possibly this summer and would like some feedback..

Semper Fi,
Gregory Carlson

[Belair62]

Interesting....my brother was in Chu-Lai...I think he got out in 66 or 67...just before Tet ? He bought a 65 GTO when he got out...he doesn't have e-mail though but he is totally "normal"...not up in the mountains or anything thank God...but we never really sat down and talked about it...he said it was nasty but never did go into it...I wish you luck...

[njsteve]

My father in law was in Viet Nam in the late 60's. Nice guy, very quiet. Likes to fish and cruise around in his 71 Old cutlass convertible. For some reason he won't go into, he does not eat chicken anymore, since he came back. No one in the family ever got an explanation for it, either. Maybe one day he'll talk. I have always had an interest in WWII armament of the allied and axis powers. At age 8 I could name every piece of military hardware in its native language. Rather bizarre now that I think about it. Probably a past life infringing on the current one! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

I am the same way..I tend to concertrate on US and German weapons, a lot on armor and infantry weapons. For those interested Schiffer and RZM have a lot of good titles of books for reference and enjoyment.. Anybody else have any realtives from WWII that they want to share?

Greg

[WILMASBOYL78]

Greg, I recently restored an L78 nova that was ordered new by a Marine Corps Vietnam Vet. Took some time but I tracked him down and got his story on the car, but we didn't talk about the war. I have some pictures of him at his firebase with his buddies also day 2 shots with the car in early 70.
There was a feature article in the oct 03 Nova Times. I dedicated the car to him we call it the Marine Corps Nova. The car will be displayed at the york US30 Muscle car show in July York,Pa. If you would like a copy of the mag send me a PM with your address and I will send you one.

SEMPER FI Wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I was never in the service due to a VERY bad back but I collect war items also and have numerous artifacts from VietNam, and World WarII.I have never visited any Battlefield sites but have artifacts from many,such as sand from Normandy Beach, original in Country Vietnam Patches,Sateen rip stop Uniform fatigues from Nam,some weapons from Nam, many other items from VietNam,Numerous books on vietnam mostly true stories (don't really care to read the untrue crapola stories).One of my best friends was a Medic in Nam and did not come home and I have his medics bag with all the contents except for the drugs of course and some equipment his Mom gave me.I also had the chance to meet Carlos Hathcock who was a Marine Corp sniper and had 93 confirmed one shot kills and probably one of the best shooters on the earth before he passed away.Also had a chance to meet Craig Roberts through the same friend who was also a Sniper in Nam. Craig is a well known author about Vietnam and is now a helocopter pilot for a Police Department.A very good Friend of mine is a member of the Former Marine corp Association and I met both Craig and Carlos at some of there meetings I was invited to.They had some great stories that would make you both laugh and cry. I have a very DEEP respect for all Veterans.I also love hearing Veterans stories even if they were a cook or what ever capacity they served in the Armed Services.My Brother also served in VietNam but will not say much about what it was like or what he went through over there except that it was a beautiful country and Hot as Hell.He is pretty normal but dos have some health issues and bad dreams about Nam.Good luck on geting the stories you want I have had the chance to talk with numerous VietNam Vets and most have some excellent stories to tell, but have ran across many VietNam Vets that do not care to talk about there time in country and after some of the stories I have heard I do not blame them at all for wanting to try and forget that time.Glad to see you guys are interested in the Veterans like me.Also Ebay is a very good source for numerous War related items,I have purchased many items from e bay from the original Veterans that served in VietNam.I find that a lot of Vets are letting go of these things after all these years.Of course it is ee bay and you have to be careful not to get DUPPED.But after a few e mails with someone it is pretty easy to figure out who was really there or not.

Bobby Dodson http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

Gunny Hathcock was a fine man and I was fortunate to have met him many times. When I was collecting I was fortunate to also have collected some historically significant items. Way too many to list, but I concertrated on items from D-Day and the Bulge. It is hard to compare holding a historically significant firearm, say a M1A1 carbine from a paratrooper who saw action at St. Mere-Eglise, to a car. In my mind the cars are cool, but they don't compare to items that were used to kick the Nazi's out of France. As a student of history, things really get put into perspective when you hold a weapon or personal item of a solider and see the pitting from blood and know that someone died far from home protecting or defending an ideal.

Semper Fi

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I agree 100%,I only met Mr. Hathcock one time but the stories he told that evening will always be etched in my mind.I sure would not have wanted him shooting at me!Good thing he was on our side.I do not have that many items from World WarII just a couple but have had a chance to see a few collections and had a chance to look at and hold many items, and you are correct about your statement holding those type of weapons.Most of my items are from VietNam,one knife in particular was well used that I purchased from a local hometown Vet.He also was one that did not mind too much talking about the war,some of the stories he had to tell made tears roll down my face.He has now passed on but I will never forget him and his stories and the items I have from his past.My poor wife thinks I am crazy for some of the items that I collect but I guess I can't blame her I am a little strange when it comes to certain things.To me the Veterans deserve more respect than they get! and Veterans day should be everyday.God Bless all the Veterans! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Bobby Dodson http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[68SS396]

I have been to Europe and some of the WW2 battlefields. I have been to Bastogne and the Ardennes. There are a lot of small Belgian towns that still have War relics in them. I went to visit my friend who is from Luxembourg and he took me to some of these places. We stopped at a little town called Hoffalize ( I believe this was the town) and they had a King Tiger tank on display in the town square. Try to hit the small towns as well as they have some great private (small) museums. Also the Battle of the Bulge Museum in Bastogne is great. Also, if you can make it, go to the AMerican Cemetary in Luxembourg City, this is where Patton is buried. ALso, there is a German war cemetary also in Luxembourg City. My best advice would be to check out the small towns as I said.
Bill http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

That sounds like a great Vacation,I would love to travel to some of those places.My dream vacation is to go to Vietnam and tour the Country there as you did the World WarII sites.Hopefully before too long I will get my heart transplant and be able to go there and some other sites as well.I have heard so many stories and read so much about Vietnam that it almost seems as I have been there.I guess that's the reason I am more a Vietnam freak also I lost numerous friends there and I was not able to go myself.I think I really would have loved the service if I had been able to join.I wanted to go in the Marines mainly due to the history of the Marine Corps. and what they stand for.Although I respect all branches of the Military with all my heart I am just partial to the Corps.Here in Texas at Fredricksburg there is the Admiral Nimitz mueseum and my Wife and I went there last year for a vacation.It is one of the best I have ever seen.They even have a area that represents the Solomon Island battle and they have some moving dummies dressed in era style uniforms and era weapons and have voice recordings and it seemed very real.The lights were dimmed and explosions occured lots of small arms firing etc.There were numerous older gentleman and there wives there and some of these guys had tears streaming after the presentation.I would assume they were there during the war and it brought back many memories for them.If you get to Texas try to go to Fredricksburg and visit the meuseum it is fascinating!My Dad God rest his soul was in the Korean conflict and suffered some severe stomach wounds while there and years later died from complications from his injuries.My Dad did not like to talk too much about Korea but would a little at times.He used to talk about how cold it was there and about some of his friends he served with.He told me one time it was so cold that your urine would freeze within 30 seconds of hitting the ground.I think that is why he settled in Houston Texas after he was discharged because of the warm weather here.I never heard my Dad talk of being hot or gripe about the heat index here in Houston.Maybe that is why I don't like cold weaher too much either and thats why I stay here also.We were on vacation in Virginia last year and it snowed about 10 inches and me and my Daughter and Son in law had a snowball fight in the hotel parking lot and after about 30 minutes I was almost froze,I had to run my hands under warm water to warm them up.After that I reflected back to the time my Dad told me the story of being so cold in Korea and thought about how miserable it must have been there.At least I had a nice warm motel room to warm up in and they had very little in Korea.Peace and Blessings to all Veterans!

Bobby Dodson http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[hvychev]

This is a very neat topic. Although my father was never in Viet Nam, my grandfather was in WW2 and was in Normandy on D Day. He was in the Navy and served as a beach head transporting troops back and forth from the boat to the shore. My mother told me that her father told her about that day and basicly recited the begining of the movie Saving Private Ryan but only it was his true account of that day. He had told her that when he droped off the troops they were dead by the time he brought the next load back. He could still remember them floating in the ocean dead and he remembered the water being pure red with blood.

On a brighter note he met my grandmother in Ireland while in WW2. they were married and my mother was born in Ireland making me first generation Irish!

Here is a cool real real vintage pic of my grandfather Emil Strnad in WW2 taken while in France.

[hvychev]

Here is another pic of him and the others that he served with. He is the 5th in the top row.

[hvychev]

Here is a very cool pic. This is right after the war where my grandmother and grandfather were celebrating. They are the couple in the middle. I love the 40's and think that I may have been there in a previous life! My grandfather looked just like Elvis with the curled lip and all even though you cant tell in this pic because they lost quality when I resized them.

[hvychev]

I just had to post one more Elvis pic. This is there wedding pic circa Feb 1946

[Belair62]

Wow Frank...you weren't kidding..he does look like Elvis !!!

[427TJ]

I flew 39 combat sorties during Gulf War '91 in the KC-135R refueling tanker. No, not as important in world history as World War I or II, but pretty exciting for a young guy who thought flying tankers would be boring. The evening of the first day of Desert Storm we were briefed that the loss rate was expected to be 10-15% on that first night of the war. 10-15% of coalition aircraft?, we asked. No, 10-15% of the tanker fleet. Oh shi_. More than a few guys in the briefing room went pale. Then, after the first two or three nights of the air war, we realized that the capability of the Iraqi air force was, to say the least, overrated. We soon stopped wearing parachutes and flight helmets in the cockpit and flew our missions as if we were over Nevada supporting the Red Flag air war training excerise. Anyway, I took the attached photo on the last day of the Gulf War. We had just refueled two F-15C Eagle fighters (air force) and offered them extra fuel if they'd show us some afterburner as they went back on patrol. This Eagle came up under the right wing of my tanker and roared out in front of our windscreen and I got this photo. The noise was unbelievable. Just after I got this photo we flew through his wake turbulence and we experienced a +2, -3 momentary G-force on our airplane, much worse than any turbulence you've ever felt on an airliner. Then the second F-15 did the exact same thing but we just missed his wake turbulence. The pilot of the F-15 in my photo was named Rory Draeger and he was based at Eglin AFB in Florida. He had two Iraqi MiG-29 kills during Desert Storm. He left the USAF in the 90s and was killed in a sports car crash on an Oregon highway.

[427TJ]

Here's a cool photo I took of four F-16 Fighting Falcons (also called "Viper") during Desert Storm. What makes this photo unique, at least until Desert Storm had gotten underway, was the fact that those are live bombs and missiles. Practice ordinance is usually painted blue but the real stuff is olive green as these are. These are cluster bombs and shortly after I took this photo people died. That's what went through my mind all during Desert Storm. No, I wasn't having any nightmares about it but it was sobering to look at those fighters with live ordinance underwing and realize that someone's going to die within the hour. These F-16s were normally based at Torrejon AB in Spain as denoted by the "TJ" tail codes.

It was easy to fight a war from 30,000 feet. The real men were down below slugging it out in the sand.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Those are some very neat pictures,and I think our Grandfather could pass as Elvis!His experience during D Day must have been horrifying.I know that most movies are just movies but I think that saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers are two of the most genuine I have ever seen.I especially liked the real soldiers that were talking on and off during Band of Brothers and how they felt the movie depicited the actual events as they really occured.Another great movie is We were Soldiers with Mel Gibson,the real Colonel that Gibson portrayed was said that when on the set and all the NVC came charging from the base of the mountain cave that he reached for his pistol in his shoulder holster to defend himself then realized that it was just a movie shoot and not real and that he did not have a pistol on! I thought if they can make the scenes that make the actual people that were there feel that way it is a pretty accurate description of the events that occured.I am a War Movie Buff and have seen just about every movie made at least twice and some many more.Prefer to watch the quality movies like Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan,and We were Soldiers,those 3 are the all time best War movies ever made because of the realistic scenes and true Stories behind them.

God Bless All Veterans

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif


Bobby Dodson

[427TJ]

"Saving Private Ryan" was one of the best war movies ever made. No gung-ho bullshi_, but rather the awful horror of combat. My wife and I went to see it and when the movie ended the theater kept the lights at a dim setting and none of the patrons moved for about five minutes. All you could hear were snifs and coughs as people got themselves together, me included. Oh, and when the P-51 Mustangs came in and knocked out the German armor the whole theater cheered. Nice to see real WWII fighters used in a movie instead of models.

Yes, "We Were Soldiers" was another fine movie. Casting Sam Elliot as the grizzled old sergeant was a master stroke. Not as explicit as Private Ryan but every bit as good.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

427TJ

Those were some very cool pictures you posted! The job you did in the Gulf is and was just as important as the Fighter Pilots and bombers and the Soldiers on the ground.Without you and the other tanker pilots and crews the Fighters and Bombers could not have performed ther jobs.It is all TEAMWORK working toward a common GOAL which is to DEFEAT the ENEMY.Thumbs up to you and your crew and to all the others,your life was on the line just like the rest of the TEAM. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Bobby Dodson http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

Frank and others thanks for sharing some pics and thoughts..

I was on the ground during the Gulf and I can say we greatly appreciated the air support, both combatant and non-combatant. It really makes our jobs easier...No matter whether you are an operator, a grunt, an aviator, a supply guy or a cook, it goes without saying you have to have teamwork. You can't be an operator without the "3 B's,"....


I ended up at a local gunshow today and was surprised to get a chance to talk to a couple of WWII vets, a guy from the 29th (Blue and Grey) who took part in the landings at Normandy, and an old guy from the 2nd "SS" Das Reich. It was interesting to hear their stories and of course understand that they were on opposing sides, yet the core of their stories was very similar..young kids wishing they were home, fighting a war neither wanted, and of course trying to make do. I don't think the political ideology really comes into play as much, the first time a round impacts near you...I must say in speaking to both vets they both thought "Saving Private Ryan," did a great job of portraying war as realistically as possible. I know from my own experiences it was as close as I've seen minus the smells..

I'm giving some serious thought to doing some traveling this summer and if anyone is interested I'd consider a group effort. I actully live in the heart of the Civil War battlefields, having land that was actually an encampment and field hospital during the 1862 camapaign to take Richmond. If anyone has an interest in the Civil War I'll be happy to act as a local guide when visiting. Hope to continue this discussion.

Semper Fi,

Gregory

Just as a side bar..I usually go to Wash DC at least once every 2-3 months (it is only 90 miles north of me). I will be going back this moth or the first of April...If anyone wants anything from the Vietnam's Veterans' Memorial (commonly known as "The Wall.") let me know and I'll pick it up for you...There are many stands around there that sell t-shirts, lapel pins, and of course MIA bracelets..I encourage everyone to wear a MIA bracelet (I haven't taken mine off in over 14 years), and show your support of the POW/MIA's..I will also make traces of any names on the wall if you can supply me with the name..Just PM me...

Semper Fi,

Gregory

[427TJ]

In 1995 I talked to a man named Richard Fiske who is a docent at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and a WWII veteran. You may have seen him on History Channel specials as well. He was a crewman (marines) on the battleship U.S.S. Pennsylvania on December 7th, 1941 and he and I talked for over an hour about that day as well as his other WWII combat experiences. In 1945 he went ashore during the invasion of Iwo Jima and took a spent shell fragment in the leg. He then reached into his pocket and showed me a buffalo nickel that was shaped like a funnel. The spent shell fragment hit his leg right where his coin purse was and the impact bent the nickel into a funnel shape! Yes, it knocked him out for a moment and his whole side was bruised but he kept advancing that bloody day. I just stood there in awe and listened to his stories and I kept getting him to tell more. At one point I told him that I had been a KC-135 pilot and his face lit up. He had been a KC-135 crew chief in the 1960s after he had transferred out of the marines ("too dangerous" as he said) and into the air force. He retired from the air force in 1969. One of the sad moments as he talked was the fact that he still, to that day in 1995 when we talked, heard what he described as knocking at his front door in the middle of the night. He said he'd wake up and answer the door and no one was ever there. He soon realized that he had been having dreams in which he was hearing the men trapped in the capsized battleship Oklahoma (at Pearl Harbor) using hammers to beat on the overturned hull in desperate pleas for rescue. I just stood there in shock and his eyes welled up. Can you imagine? Almost 60 years later and he still hears those guys trapped in the Oklahoma pounding on the hull with hammers--men he knew and men who slowly died trapped in that ship. Some of the Okalhoma's men were rescued but many slowly died in the weeks after the attack. Mr. Fiske said that by Christmas (1941) the sounds coming from the Oklahoma had finally ceased. My wife and I both thanked him and gave him a hug, a firm handshake, and a pat on the back. I then went into the gift shop, bought a book on the battleship Arizona (I have a huge library) and Dick Fiske gladly put an inscription on the frontspiece. My wife took a photo of Dick and I together and it's in the front of that book. One last note. Dick Fiske told me that he had been having dreams about the war for many years and it finally got to the point where he decided to move back to Hawaii "to be close to those guys," and he pointed toward battleship row.

Tom Brokaw called those men and women the "Greatest Generation" and he's right.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Those are some great stories,I watched the program and I think I remember Mr Fiske,it was a very interesting program.But also you guys in the Gulf are just as important to people like me!You may not have the stories to share of your own like Mr. Fiske and the stories you guys have may not be as Historical as Pearl Harbor but just as important to this Country in my book.Not to take anything away from the people that served in any of the other wars such as WWI,WWII,Korea,Vietnam and others, this is just my opinion.I have the deepest respect in my heart for all Veterans of all wars,and to all people serving this Great Country now as I post this message.Where would we all be now if it were not for all you Veterans!My Greatest thanks to all of you guys and gals that are Veterans.I love the classic car discussions but this has to be one of the best discussions I have had in a long time.

Bobby Dodson http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Turbo_Jet]

I've always been interested in military history as well, especially WWII and Vietnam. I found a neat site the other day that has a few stories about MACV/SOG teams in Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia. Here's the link for ya'll--> http://www.macvsog.org/ The stories that are on that site are unreal, these men were simply amazing.

I had a chance over the weekend to speak to John Setlin, who was a Sgt. in the Ia Drang Valley, in 1965. He currently builds match grade rifles, and is mentioned prominently in Hal Moore's book, "We Were soliders Once..And Young." It is really interesting to read a book or see a movie, and then actually speak to someone there...puts everything into context. I know I used to really cherish my conversations with Gunny Hathcock and his buddies Norm Chandler the rest of the Iron Brigade gang. Hopefully this thread will inspire others to take an active role in keeping veterans histories alive...

[mahoy78spyder]

Having just been through a war about this time last year, my respect for veterans is even greater than it already was. I read the accounts of the other veterans listed before my post here and my eyes welled up because it brings back the feelings I felt through my own experiences. All I can say is, "War is not pretty" and shake my head at the memory of it. One thing I've learned since coming back from Iraq last year is that I now understand why so many veterans get together for events like they do. No one else who's never seen war first hand understands the experiences that we've been through. When I first got back the nightmares were almost nightly - the daylight hours were ok as long as I wasn't by myself too much where I had time to think about "it". I trucked North to Baghdad just behind 3rd I.D. and we were in the thick of it. I don't claim to have PTSD or anything of the sorts... it just took a few months to get reacclimated to things once coming home... But when I feel the need to "talk" every now and then, I talk to one of my war buddies. There is a silent understanding between us that heals. We don't even have to talk about the war itself... but if we do, it's just even better. It gets better every day. Each of us have our own experiences and our own ways of coping once home, but rest assured we're all doing fine. My helmet goes off to all the other veterans out there who have helped keep our country the greatest nation in the world and fought to keep it "free" from oppressive regimes. We really do live in a great country - and I certainly don't take that for granted anymore!

Ken
MSgt, USAF http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[jus4funn68]

Greg my Dad flew in a Curtis Helldiver in WWII. Served 2 cruises- one on the Bunker Hill and the other on the Yorktown, which is a museum on Charleston. I visit it there a couple times a year. I have all his flight records, pics, and of course the memories of hearing his combat experiences many times before he died. I hope to have him enrolled in the "Enlisted Flyers Honor Roll" later this year on the Yorktown. Im with you, I will listen to any vets from any theater anytime...we owe them and always will. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif Anytime you want to chat about the things I have heard drop me an email. Kevin

[mahoy78spyder]

I have to add (even though it is a very recent war and perhaps not of the historical magnitude of WWI or II) that anyone reading this thread that wants a "grunts-eye view" of the War in Iraq last year should take a peek at Oliver North's "War Stories - Operation Iraqi Freedom" book. It's basically his journal while over there, written in Sitrep (Situational Report) style, but I have been glued to the book, often comparing it to my own journal and the record of certain events that happened on a particular day. As you read it, remind yourself that what you're reading about is real events and the actual people that were involved in them. I'm only a third of the way through the book and already it's as if I'm back there, reliving the emotions, the frustrations, and yes, even the boredom at times. But suffice to say, there is a human side to war, and Col. North represents that side of the war the "best" in this book in my humble opinion. Take a look-see sometime....

Ken

[jus4funn68]

Ken how long has the book been out? Also, thanks for your contribution to the effort! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[mahoy78spyder]

I understand the book first came out last November, but I just recently bought it online at the Foxnews.com website last week. It also comes with a DVD of his Warstories broadcast of Operation Iraqi Freedom. You will be amazed at how this man is even still alive after his experiences over there, but what I like the most is his purposeful effort to get the war's perspective from the common soldier and not the top brass. It's a very telling tale and I'm now over halfway through the book and am STIL glued to it.

Ken
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif